Apparatus for applying chemicals to rodents

ABSTRACT

An enclosure is provided having openings for allowing entry of rodents into the enclosure. There is arranged one or more applicators in the form of a suspended flexible web configured to contact rodents entering the chamber and having a chemical on the web for application to the rodents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of the filing dates of U.S.patent application Ser. Nos. 10/282,853, filed on Oct. 28, 2002 (nowabandoned), and 09/595,034, filed on Jun. 16, 2000 (now abandoned). Thepresent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/282,853, which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/595,034.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating rodents particularlywild rodents with a chemical substance. In some instances, treatment ofwild rodents can be beneficial to the public health. It is an object ofthe invention to provide an apparatus that can be placed in an outdoorarea to treat wild rodents in the area with a chemical substance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for applying achemical to rodents. The apparatus includes an enclosure having at leastone peripheral opening for allowing entrance of rodents into theenclosure. The enclosure includes at least one applicator in the form ofa suspended flexible web arranged to contact rodents entering theenclosure and having the chemical on the web.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects, reference is made to the following description,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and its scope willbe pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view showing an apparatus according the presentinvention with the top fully open.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the FIG. 1 apparatus showing the arrangementwith the top in a nearly closed condition.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of an applicator useful in the FIG. 1embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the FIG. 3 applicator.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of an alternate applicator.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of another alternate applicator.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the FIG. 6 applicator.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of an enclosure according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the FIG. 8 enclosure.

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of an alternate enclosure.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of an alternate applicator for use withthe FIG. 10 enclosure.

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of another applicator according to theinvention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the FIG. 12 applicator.

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of another applicator according to theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, apparatus 10 of the present invention is shown in afully opened condition. The apparatus includes a lower member 12 and anupper member 14 which are hinged together at 16 to form a boxlikeenclosure that can be swung open and closed. Members 12 and 14 arepreferably made of plastic, such as injection molded plastic. A suitableenclosure is available from Bell Laboratories of Madison, Wis. and soldunder the product name “Protecta Jr. Bait Station”. The enclosure is6″×5½″ and 3″ high. The enclosure has a durable hinge 16 connecting theupper member 14 and the lower member 12 and includes a screw lock tosecure the enclosure in a closed condition so that children or largeranimals are not able to open the enclosure and reach the contentsthereof.

Lower member 12 includes sidewall openings 28 which are visible in theside view of FIG. 2 and which are arranged in an appropriate size topermit the entry of a rodent such as a mouse. Inside member 12 there isa provided an interior wall 18 which separates the enclosure into anentry passageway having openings 28 and an inner bait chamber in whichthere is provided a bait 24. Bait 24 is preferably a solid bait mountedon a steel horizontal rod 22 which keeps the bait off any moisture onthe floor of the enclosure. Interior wall 18 has an opening 20 by whicha rodent may enter the inner bait chamber. The top cover member 14 isprovided with three applicator mounting slots 26A, 26B and 26C.Applicators 32 each comprise a flexible web which is suspended to extendwithin enclosure 10. Applicator 32 shown in FIG. 3 is arranged to have afabric web 36 pass through one of slots 26 and to have horizontalsupport member, comprising metal rod 34, engage the top 14 of enclosure10 so that the fabric webs 36 of applicators 32 are suspended to hanginto regions A, B and C respectively of enclosure 10 when cover 14 is inthe closed position. Accordingly, when a rodent enters the chamber andmoves through regions A, B or C, the flexible fabric web 36 of theapplicator 32 will rub across the fur or skin of the rodent and apply asmall amount of the chemical thereon to the skin or fur of the rodent.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the applicators are arranged inpositions where a rodent is likely to pass when exploring the inside ofthe enclosure. In particular, the rodent will be entering by one of theopenings 28 and be attracted to bait 24 in the inner bait chamber of theenclosure. In reaching the bait 24 the rodent is likely to pass throughand contact with either the applicator extending through slot 26A (shownas 32A in FIG. 2) or the applicator extending through slot 26B(applicator not shown in FIG. 2) in the passageway from opening 28 toopening 20 and thereafter also contact applicator 32C while passingthrough opening 20 and approaching bait 24.

It will be understood by those familiar with the art that differentsize, shape and configuration of enclosures may be used in accordancewith the invention and that the particular location of applicators 32 insuch enclosures may be at different locations according to thearrangement of passages in the enclosures.

It should be additionally recognized that it may be advantageous toprovide applicators 32 in a configuration wherein they can be easilyreplaced with new applicators to provide a renewed supply of chemicals.

FIGS. 3 through 14 illustrate various embodiments for applicators andapplicator mounting arrangements according to the invention. Theapplicators shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 include a flexible web which has ahorizontal mounting member for engaging the enclosure and from which theflexible web is suspended within the enclosure to rub over a rodentpassing through the enclosure. In particular, it is desired to have theweb rub over the ear lobes and contact behind the ears of the rodent, aplace where rodents cannot remove the chemical.

The applicator 32 of FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a fabric web 36, which maybe felt, cotton, wool or similar absorbent web material. A horizontalsupport rod 34 passes through a loop 40 formed by web 36 at the upperend by seam or glue strip 38. A semicircular cutout 42 at the lower edgeof web 36, opposite horizontal support 34 provides a passage which islower in the height of the opening than the anticipated height of therodent, so that the fabric of web 36 rubs across the back, head and earsof the rodent passing through.

An alternate applicator 43 shown in FIG. 5 includes a web 46 of similarmaterial having vertical slits 47 forming flexible strips which hanginto a passageway through which a rodent may pass in the manner of abeaded curtain. The resulting strips of the web 46 likewise rub againstthe back of a passing rodent. Applicator 43 is suspended from support 44which is in a loop formed by seam 48.

Applicators 32 and 43 may be arranged so that their respective webs passthrough slots 26 while the support rods engage the top wall 14 of theenclosure.

Another version of applicator 50 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 includes bothsemicircular opening 52 and slits 57 in web 56. Horizontal support 54may be a U-shaped plastic part to which the web 56 is glued and may sitin top of cover 14 or may be engaged by internal support slots 60 formedon the interior walls of enclosure 10 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,

Alternatively, a horizontal support bar 62 may be provided across apassageway as shown in FIG. 10, preferably having pointed holders 64 forreceiving applicator 70 having web 72 and optionally U-shaped supportmember 74 as shown in FIG. 11.

Applicator 80 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 includes a plane web 82 which isformed with a perpendicular portion 84 at the top edge. An adhesivestrip 86 is applied to portion 84 to enable attachment to the interiorof top wall 14 of enclosure 10.

Applicator 90 shown in FIG. 14 includes web 92 with perpendicularportion 94 and adhesive strip 96. Cutouts 98, preferably triangular inshape, invite contacting passage by a rodent. The base opening ofcutouts 98 along the lower edge of web 92 are arranged to be narrowerthan the width of a rodent.

1. Apparatus for applying a chemical to rodents comprising an enclosurehaving at least one peripheral opening allowing entry of rodents intosaid enclosure, said enclosure including at least one applicatorarranged to contact rodents entering said enclosure, wherein theapplicator comprises a flexible web suspended into said enclosure,further wherein: a) said web comprises a fabric, b) said applicatorincludes an upper horizontal support member and said fabric suspendedfrom said support member; and c) said fabric includes at least oneopening extending from an edge of said fabric opposite said horizontalsupport member, said opening having at least one dimension smaller thansaid rodents; further wherein said enclosure has a top wall, whereinthere is a slot in said top wall, wherein said upper horizontal supportmember of said applicator is located on a top edge of said flexible web,said top edge of said flexible web being shorter than said slot and saidsupport member being longer than said slot, whereby when said web isinserted into said slot, said support member engages said top wall andsupports said web.
 2. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein saidfabric includes vertical slits extending from an edge of said fabricopposite said horizontal support member.
 3. Apparatus according to claim2, wherein said apparatus further comprises a chemical that is disposedon said flexible web.
 4. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein saidopening is a semicircular opening with a radius smaller than the heightof said rodents.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saidapparatus further comprises a chemical that is disposed on said flexibleweb.
 6. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said opening is atriangular opening having a triangle base along said edge, said trianglebase being smaller than the width of said rodent.
 7. Apparatus accordingto claim 6, wherein said apparatus further comprises a chemical that isdisposed on said flexible web.
 8. Apparatus as specified in claim 1,wherein said enclosure has a passageway, wherein said upper horizontalsupport member of said applicator is located on a top edge of saidflexible web, wherein said passageway includes slots for receiving endsof said support member to support and suspend said web across saidpassageway.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said apparatusfurther comprises a chemical that is disposed on said flexible web. 10.Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said enclosure has apassageway and said horizontal support member is a support beam disposedacross said passageway so that said flexible web is suspended into saidpassageway.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said apparatusfurther comprises a chemical that is disposed on said flexible web. 12.Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said applicator has anadhesive strip along an upper edge for adhering to a top wall of saidenclosure to suspend said web.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12,wherein said apparatus further comprises a chemical that is disposed onsaid flexible web.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidrodent is a mouse.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein saidapparatus further comprises a chemical that is disposed on said flexibleweb.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus furthercomprises a chemical that is disposed on said flexible web. 17.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a bait is present inside saidenclosure.
 18. Apparatus for applying a chemical to rodents comprisingan enclosure having at least one peripheral opening allowing entry ofrodents into said enclosure, said enclosure including at least oneapplicator arranged to contact rodents entering said enclosure, whereinthe applicator comprises a flexible web suspended into said enclosure,said flexible web having a chemical disposed thereon, further wherein:a) said web comprises a fabric, b) said applicator includes an upperhorizontal support member and said fabric suspended from said supportmember; c) said fabric includes at least one opening extending from anedge of said fabric opposite said horizontal support member, saidopening having at least one dimension smaller than said rodents; and d)a bait is present inside said enclosure; further wherein said enclosurehas a top wall, wherein there is a slot in said top wall, wherein saidupper horizontal support member of said applicator is located on a topedge of said flexible web, said top edge of said flexible web beingshorter than said slot and said support member being longer than saidslot, whereby when said web is inserted into said slot, said supportmember engages said top wall and supports said web.